The Supreme Court today appointed former Judge of the Punjab & Haryana High Court Justice Rakesh Kumar Jain to oversee the Lakhimpur Kheri violence in Uttar Pradesh that led to eight deaths. A Bench comprising Chief Justice of India N.V. Ramana and Justices Surya Kant and Hima Kohli ordered that Justice Jain-led Commission will ensure impartiality and independence of the investigation.
The Apex court also reconstituted the Special Investigation Team (SIT) tasked with probing the incident. Present Inspector General of Uttar Pradesh Police Padmaja Chauhan is among the officers who will now be part of the SIT.
Today’s order was passed following a petition registered on the basis of letters seeking registration of an FIR in the matter as well as punishment of the guilty parties involved in the Lakhimpur Kheri incident, in which farmers protesting against the farm laws in Uttar Pradesh were mowed down by a four-wheeler belonging to Ashish Mishra, son of Union Minister of State Ajay Mishra Teni. Eight people had died as a result of the violence that ensued.
